Course Name Western Civilization I  Course Number/Section: HIS 121/01 
Spring Semester 2008 Class hours: M, W, F 9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Instructor:	Ray Sheppard	
Website:	http://www.geocities.com/raysheppard08/	
Email:	rsheppard@cis.bcc.cc.nc.us	

TEXT: 	
The Western Heritage, Volume One: To 1740; Brief Fifth Edition; By Donald Kagan, Steven Ozment, Frank M. Turner.

Other readings maybe assigned throughout the semester and will be provided by the instructor.
 
*DESCRIPTION: 
This course introduces western civilization from pre-history to the early modern era. Topics include ancient Greece, Rome, and Christian institutions of the Middle Ages and the emergence of national monarchies in Western Europe. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in early western civilization.

This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement
general education core requirement in social/behavioral sciences. This course is also
available.

Special Needs Information: * Students with special needs related to a diagnosed disability should contact Tommy Rains (910.879.5570; trains@bladencc.edu) in student services for assistance.

GOALS/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (Students will be able to demonstrate competency in the following areas): 
1.	Analyze changes and continuity over time.
2.	Give the proper order of historical events/people.
3.	Critically examine the past and various historical interpretations.
4.	Understand key cultural, political, economic, and military activities.
5.	Demonstrate improved written and oral communication skills.

REQUIREMENTS: 

READING ASSIGNMENTS

1.	Ten reading assignments will be administered throughout the semester.
2.	Assignments are not listed on the course schedule.
3.	Assignments may cover readings, lectures, or films.
4.	Missed assignments need to be turned in as soon as possible. 
5.	Assignments turned in late will have 2 points per day subtracted from the final score.

ARTICLE REVIEWS (See handout for instructions)

1.	You will be required to complete four article reviews.
2.	Each review should be no less than one full page in length and contain proper spelling and grammar. 
3.	Articles can be found on the instructor’s website.
4.  This assignment must be turned in before midnight on the due date.
5.  Reviews maybe turned in during class time or emailed to the instructor.
      6.  No late reviews will be accepted.

EXAMS

1.	There will be three exams in this course. 
2.	Each exam will be worth 100 points.
3.	Each exam will contain:
(A)	25 multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each.
(B)	5 short answer questions worth 10 points each.
4.	Each exam will also contain a bonus question worth 5 extra points.
5.	To prepare for the exams you should:
                  (A) Study your lecture notes.
	      (B) Review the assigned chapters in the textbook.
	      (D) Be familiar with the review questions at the end of each chapter.
     6.   Make up exams will only be given in the event of a documented emergency. 
	          If you miss an exam and fail to provide proof of a documented emergency you
          will receive a 0 on the exam.
     7.  All makeup exams will be different from the exam given to the class on exam day.
     
PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDENCE:

1.	Regular attendance is required in order to pass this course.
2.	Each absence will result in a 10-point deduction from the 100-point class participation grade.
3.	If you are late to class, or you leave class early, you will lose 5 points for that class meeting. Two tardies will equal one absence.  Please Note: Attendance will be taken at the start of each class meeting. If you are late to class, you must see the instructor immediately after class in order to change their attendance that day from absent (-10) to late (-5). 
4.	It is your responsibility to get notes and assignments (etc) when you are absent from a class meeting.
5.	If absences exceed 20% of all scheduled contact hours, the student will be dropped from the course with either a “W” or “WF” depending on the withdrawal date.  
6.	Daily participation points may be deducted due to distractive or disrespectful behavior; ie: cell phones, talking, sleeping, etc.

See the college catalogue for current policy regarding class attendance, tardiness, drop-add periods, etc.

EVALUATION: 
All assignments will be given a point value; grades will be recorded as having achieved an amount of the total points possible.  Grades are figured by adding a student’s scores.

Assignment	Possible Points	
Three Exams	100 points each	
Four Article Reviews	25 points each	
Ten Reading Assignments	10 points each	
Participation/Attendance	100 points total	
Total Possible Points	600	

Grading Scale:
540-600	A	
480-539	B	
420-479	C	
360-419	D	
359 and below	F	
	 
Ground Rules: 
1.	It is your responsibility to turn assignments in on time. 
2.	Cell phones, pagers, and other electrical devices must be turned off in class.
3.	Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students caught cheating will receive a 0 on the assignment. Students caught plagiarizing will fail the course.
4.	 Any disruptive or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.
5.	To protect the confidentiality of student records, I will not discuss student grades via the telephone or email. Please make an appointment to meet with me if you need to discuss your grades.

Course Schedule (subject to change)

Week	Assignment	Topic	
One	
Read Chapter One (pgs 5-34)	Course Introduction
 The Birth of Civilization
	
Two	Read Chapter Two (pgs 37-67)	The Greeks
	
Three	Read Chapter Three (pgs 71-108)	The Greeks
	
Four	Article Review One Due (1/28)

Exam One (1/30)	Alexander The Great

Rome

Five	Read Chapters Four & Five (pgs 111-191)	Rome
	
Six	Read Chapters Four & Five (pgs 111-191)

Article Review Two Due (2/15)	Rome

The Roman Navy
	
Seven	Read Chapter 6
(pgs 195-224)
	The Early Middle Ages	
Eight	Read Chapters 7 - 8
(pgs 229-280)	The High Middle Ages	
Nine	Read Chapter 9
(pgs 291-311)	The Late Middle Ages	
Ten	Article Review Three Due (3/17)
Exam Two
(4/19)	Middle Ages Review	
Eleven	Read Chapter 10
(pgs 317-349)	The Renaissance	
Twelve	Read Chapters 10 – 11
(pgs 317-384)	The Renaissance

Reformation	
Thirteen	Read Chapter 12
(pgs 389-414)	Religious Wars
	
Fourteen	Read Chapter 13
(pgs 417-445)	Constitutionalism and Absolutism	
Fifteen	Read Chapter 14
(pgs 449-477)	New Directions: 16th & 17th Centuries	
Sixteen	Reading to be assigned.

Article Review Four Due (4/30)	Paths to Power: 1686-1740 (Chpt 15)	
Seventeen	Final Exam (Exam 3)	See College Schedule